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Initial contact after the death of a member of a couple and the surviving partner is a DVA recipient 099-01010030

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This document outlines when Services Australia can offer help to a person after the death of their partner where the surviving partner receives payments from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA).

DVA customer advises of death of their partner

This table describes the process to follow when contacted by a DVA customer, advising of the death of their partner.

Step

Action

1

DVA customer advises their partner's death + Read more ...

A DVA customer contacts Services Australia to advise of the death of their partner.

In some cases, DVA may be responsible for paying the lump sum bereavement payment to the surviving partner, if eligible.

If the deceased was an adult care receiver for a Carer Allowance customer, complete this procedure and then follow the procedure outlined in Death of an adult care receiver and the effect on Carer Allowance (CA).

2

Check DVA recipient status + Read more ...

Was the deceased person a DVA recipient at the time of death?

3

Advise person to contact DVA + Read more ...

Advise the surviving partner to contact DVA general enquiries. See Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) for contact details.

If the deceased also has a Centrelink record, the death will need to be recorded. This is required even if the deceased partner did not receive any Centrelink payments.

4

Check Centrelink recipient status + Read more ...

Was the deceased person a Centrelink recipient or did they have a Centrelink record at the time of death?

5

Deceased person was a Centrelink recipient or had a Centrelink record at the time of death + Read more ...

See the appropriate procedure:

Procedure ends here.

6

Check DVA payment entitlement + Read more ...

Has the customer lost their entitlement to their DVA payment?

  • Yes, go to Step 7
  • No, advise the person to contact DVA general enquiries. See Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) for contact details

7

Surviving partner’s eligibility + Read more ...

  • Offer referral to social worker if appropriate. See Referring customers to a social worker
  • If the death occurred on or after the 20 March 2020 - check if the surviving partner is eligible for JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance and advise them to claim online, so bereavement provisions including backdating to the date of death, Partner Bereavement Payment and mutual obligation or Activity Test Exemptions can be accessed
  • If appropriate, provide contact details for Funeral assistance - State Government